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Deborah

Ben-Zion, The Prophetess Deborah, 1957. Oil on canvas, Museum of Biblical Art, New York. 

The Prophetess Deborah, by Ben-Zion (1897–1987), pictures Deborah as a powerful Middle Eastern woman wearing a traditional white dress, with her eyes closed and hands raised in prayer. The style is loose and primitive, with the strength of Deborah portrayed through the musculature of her outstretched arms. In the Hebrew Bible, Deborah is a prophetess and a warrior who predicts and leads the Israelites in a successful military action against the forces of King Jabin of Canaan. The Song of Deborah (Judg 5) is a victory hymn about the Israelites’ defeat of the Canaanites.

Ben-Zion, The Prophetess Deborah. Oil on canvas, 1957.

A West Semitic language, in which most of the Hebrew Bible is written except for parts of Daniel and Ezra. Hebrew is regarded as the spoken language of ancient Israel but is largely replaced by Aramaic in the Persian period.

A song or poem that is religious in nature.

Judges 5, a poetic account parallel to Judges 4 and attributed to the prophetess and judge Deborah.

Judg 5

The Song of Deborah
1Then Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:2“When locks are long in Israel,
when the people offer themselves willingly— ... View more

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